Jeff Cohen
Software Engineer and Entrepreneur
Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Jeff is a self-taught software engineer going on 30 years now, and a Rubyist since 2006. He runs Purple Workshops, a small software studio in Chicago that build custom software applications in Rails. He also teaches in the Masters Program for Computer Science at the University of Chicago, teaching web development and applied software engineering. He has a particular passion for the learning sciences and helping new developers find solid careers in the software industry.
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Learning How to Learn: A Framework for Lifelong Rubyists
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by how much there is to learn in software—or frustrated that something just isn’t clicking—this talk is for you. In 40 minutes, I’ll share a practical framework for learning how to learn, developed through years of hands-on coding, mentoring, and formal teaching. You’ll walk away with a set of ideas and practices to help you get better at getting better—no matter where you are in your career.
Software development is more than just coding: it's really about how to solve problems that appear in a variety of shapes and forms.
We’ll start with a quick tour of 10 core learning principles, like “Context is Everything,” “Spike to Learn, Build to Remember,” and “The Spiral Staircase.” These aren’t buzzwords—they’re mental models that help you tackle unfamiliar codebases, debug faster, and retain what you study. Think of it as a way to organize your learning, so you spend less time spinning your wheels and more time leveling up.
Then we’ll dig into a few specific practices you can try right away—like “Tiny Steps” to reduce cognitive load and build confidence, or “Broken Code Puzzles” to sharpen your skills through play and failure. These techniques are lightweight but powerful, and they work whether you’re self-teaching a new gem or mentoring someone else.
This won’t be a lecture on neuroscience nor a random grab-bag of tips. It’s a coherent framework of ideas and examples that will help you learn more efficiently, stay curious, and grow sustainably in a field that never stops changing. You’ll leave with both high-level insight and concrete tools you can use immediately.
Especially at a time where AI clickbait can cause fear and uncertainty, this talk will instill confidence we remain in control of our own destiny as professional developers.
Closing the Gap: How to Leap from Bootcamp to Job
Been to a bootcamp but still trying to land that first real job? Perhaps you've landed an apprenticeship or entry-level job but anxious to move up?
Or perhaps you lead a team and wish you knew how to acclimate junior developers seamlessly into your organization?
This session is geared for you.
Bootcamps can be helpful as a place to start, but there's always a gap between a bootcamp skillset and the skills required for a real job as a Ruby developer.
In this talk, I'll lay out a practical guide to acquiring the skills and knowledge you'll need to get your foot into the industry or reach that next rung on your career ladder.
I'll cover the areas of computer science most applicable to beginning Ruby programmers, highlight top programming skills that most bootcamps won't cover, and tactics for finding a position that suits you the best.
I'll also cover the top three things every senior developer should keep in mind when hiring, training, and mentoring new developers.
Along the way, we'll learn about this history of the Ruby community and tackle the most important skill of all: to learn how to learn more.
Rocky Mountain Ruby Sessionize Event
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